From the PSD Desk
You may be aware that Aotearoa New Zealand is currently in the final stages of its Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, the largest inquiry with more powers than any other ever undertaken in the country. It has the capacity to make recommendations that, if implemented, will transform the way we care for children, young people, and vulnerable adults in the future.
The final reports are expected to be handed down in March, after 133 days of public hearings and the receiving of over 1.1 million documents. (Note this is likely to be delayed as the Commission is requesting an extension at publication time; no new date is available.)
You will recall that all our Lutheran congregations were asked to submit documentation to the Commission as evidence of our practices in the way in which we care for children, young people, and vulnerable adults as we minister to them.
Unfortunately, Aotearoa New Zealand has extremely high rates of interpersonal violence, which includes such things as child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse, so action is clearly required to address this disturbing and harmful situation.
At present, only some sectors of society, those receiving government funding, have any protective regulations guiding behaviour and the reporting of abuse. The rest of society, including faith-based institutions, sporting organisations, community groups and so on, are free to act without any legislated parameters around their activities, and so are, in effect, free to act in ways which may pose a risk to their participants and cause great harm.
Some of you might have joined me in signing a petition in 2023, calling on NZ parliament to review and amend the Children’s Act 2014 to broaden and strengthen its capacity to protect New Zealand’s children from abuse, both within organisations and in the places children go.
Many of the Christian Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand, including our own Lutheran Church, are championing recognised best practices – for example providing training to members to inform and equip them for their roles, implementing robust appointment processes, and requiring good safety plans and risk assessments. We do this even though we are not currently compelled to do so by law, because we are responding to our Lord’s command to care for each other, and we understand the need to be proactive in safety measures.
I recently heard Dr Michelle Egan- Bitran (a Principal Advisor to the Royal Commission) speak. She has just completed her doctoral thesis, “The Religious Sector – Violence and Child Abuse.” She makes the point that faith-based organisations can perpetuate interpersonal violence because of several factors, for example our structure (often patriarchal) and the potential to misuse and abuse moral authority and power. In addition, there are significant barriers to improving the culture of safety. Let us be aware, and not fall into these areas of danger!
Yet Michelle also sees the potential churches have in playing a unique role in the prevention of abuse. While there is currently no pathway, infrastructure, or funding to progress the role of the religious sector, it is reasonable to expect that this will be part of the recommendations which come out of the Royal Commission.
Our hope is for positive steps in our country to protect our children and those in vulnerable circumstances.
Denise Muschamp, Professional Standards Officer LCANZ
